Renaissance reopens in Highland Park

Theater completely rebooted during renovation

July 08, 2013|By Donald Liebenson, Special to the Tribune

This movie season has produced several blockbuster sequels, including "Iron Man 3" and "Fast and Furious 6." But for Highland Park residents, the movie event of the summer opens Friday. Call it: Renaissance Place Cinema II.

It's not so much a sequel as it is a reboot, a complete renovation of the city's lone operating movie theater.

Opening Friday will be the coming-of-age dramatic comedy "The Way, Way Back" and the critically acclaimed documentary "20 Feet From Stardom." Stealing the shows, however, might be the renovated theater's amenities, ranging from a new bar and lounge area and reclining seats to a game-changing new technology to aid those with hearing loss.

The $1.1 million project began in March, leaving Highland Park temporarily without a theater. The venerable Highland Park Theater, formerly the Alcyon, which opened in 1925, was shuttered in May 2012 for safety violations. The city, which bought that theater in 2009 for $2.1 million, is weighing options on what to do with the site.

Just the prospect of Renaissance Place's reopening is garnering rave reviews from the business community.

"The fact that we've been without a movie theater for several months has been felt by the businesses," said Virginia Glasner, executive director of the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce. "A movie theater has a huge positive impact. It adds to the vitality of the community."

Chef Benjamin Brittsan said he had not felt the impact of Renaissance Place Cinema's temporary closing as much as other businesses because for much of that time he was producing a reboot of his own, recently reopening his restaurant under the name Benjamin Tapas on Second Street across from the theater.

"Everyone who comes in has asked if I knew when the theater is opening," he said. "I'm excited to see the continuation of something that had been a constant in Highland Park. This will bring a lot more people to the street, which (with the closing of other restaurants and Saks Fifth Avenue) we've been missing since the Renaissance closed."

Founded in 1974, Landmark Theatres has 50 theaters in 21 markets. The 2008 economic collapse caused the company to rethink plans to put up new buildings and instead "put some money back" into some of the chain's "better facilities," said Ted Mundorff, president and chief executive officer.

"Some of them were aging," he said. "We were very happy with the results (of the renovations). Renaissance Place Cinema will be the fourth theater we've gone in and redone since September 2012."

The company has owned and operated the five-screen, 20,000-square-foot Renaissance Place Cinema since 2000.

"I wouldn't characterize the theater as drab," Mundorff said, "but there was nothing stunning about it."

The transformation promises to be as dramatic as Dorothy's emergence from sepia-tinted Kansas into colorful Oz. Last winter the Highland Park City Council approved a new $2,500 annual liquor license that will allow the theater to serve alcohol. Patrons can bring drinks into the theater or imbibe in a new lounge in the lobby.

The auditoriums themselves were completely gutted and have been outfitted for digital projection. Two theaters will feature fully reclining seats.

"Landmark has always been about an adult, sophisticated moviegoer experience," Mundorff said. "It should be all about customer service, and one of the amenities that goes along with that is to add beer, wine and alcohol, if you can.

"I think (the theater) will be warmer. We're trying to improve upon the atmosphere and make it a place you'll want to enjoy a glass of wine before or after the movie."

The real innovation, he said, was the installation of a hearing loop system championed by Dr. Linda Remensnyder of Lake Forest, founder of Hearing Associates Inc. and an advocate for those with hearing loss. She successfully pushed for installation of the system at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire and City Hall in Lake Forest. Remensnyder contacted Mundorff when she heard about the plans to renovate Renaissance Place Cinema.

The hearing loop system will make it possible for those who wear a compatible hearing aid to link directly into the theater's sound system through the hearing aid's telecoil. Renaissance Place Cinema will be the first movie theater in Illinois with this technology.

Remensnyder is not associated with the system and says she does not profit from her efforts to get it installed.

"This is just a passion of mine," she said. "I'm an advocate for people with hearing loss. (The hearing loop system) is all over Europe. It's changing the lives of people who have trouble hearing in poor acoustical environments such as the theater, church or even taxicabs.

"The Renaissance is my favorite theater, and I thought how wonderful it would be if people with hearing loss could enjoy a movie with no background noise."

Prices of general admission tickets will increase from $10 to $11. Tickets for seniors will rise from $7 to $9.75. All shows before 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday will be $9, an increase of $2.

This is in line with other area theaters. An adult ticket at Northbrook Court is $10.75. A senior ticket is $9.75.

"We don't want to be a price leader," Mundorff said.

Renaissance Place Cinema is one of a handful of Landmark properties in a suburban location.

"We are generally urban-based," Mundorff said. "But we are trying to grow (a suburban audience). I think new seats, new carpet and a fresh look will help to attract people."

Attorney Loren Stone, a Highland Park resident and a frequent patron of the theater, said he was looking forward to having one close to home again.